Panthers take down LC, a win 30 years in the making

COUNCIL BLUFFS — In 1995, Windows 95 was released, the “Macarena” became a global hit and the Creston girls basketball team defeated Lewis Central for the last time in three decades.

Thursday, it was more than a conference basketball game. It was time to break a losing streak that spanned almost double the age of the players themsevles.

It was a hard-fought victory, Creston (8-5, 4-1) coming out on top 57-56 in achieving one of their major goals for the year.

At halftime, the score was tied at 26, and after a big third quarter by the Titans, Creston trailed 44-37 at the end of the third.

With three minutes left to play, Creston was still down by seven, but the Panthers found a way to get it done.

“This was a huge win for us,” coach Tony Neubauer said. “Our kids did an amazing job of grinding out a big Hawkeye 10 road win. It was a total team effort.”

While scoring star Kadley Bailey continued to shine, logging 33 points, her teammates stepped up to bring home the win.

Senior Ella Turner scored 11 for the Panthers including the game-winning free throw.

On the boards, Creston’s 5-9 Braylee Pokorny was a menace, snagging 14 rebounds.

Turner and Brynn Tussey each had seven rebounds in a game where the Panthers posted 41.

Neubauer credited all the girls in the milestone win.

“Kadley had another big scoring night. Braylee was big on the boards. Hollynn [Rieck] played through a lot of physical play and made some big plays down the stretch,” he said. “Ella hit three big shots in the second half and the game-winning free throw and Brynn hit a huge three to put us up by three with a minute left.”

He added that sophomores Jensan Tussey and Marlee Stalker gave quality minutes off the bench.

With the win, the Panthers ride a five-game win streak, four of them being conference games.

Creston has just one conference loss this season, a 75-34 defeat to No. 3 St. Albert (Class 1A). The Saintes lead the Hawkeye 10 at 7-0 in conference play. Also at the top is Kuemper Catholic, with a conference record of 5-0. Creston sits at third with a 4-1 record.

Tonight, Creston plays at Shenandoah (10-5, 2-4), a game that features two of the best shooters in Iowa.

Leading Class 3A in points is Shenandoah’s Kalyn Scamman, a 5-9 sophomore who has logged 333 points in 15 games. On her tail is Bailey, a senior with 302 points in 13 games. Bailey leads the conference in points per game with an average of 23.2.

“It should be a fun night of basketball,” Neuabuer said.